S&P 500
IndexMarket proxy SPY$765.841D +0.31%as of market close, Aug 25, 2026
S&P 500 returns by year
S&P 500 has returned +10.6% annually (CAGR) since 1994. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for the S&P 500 (proxied by SPY, dividends reinvested) below, through August 25, 2026 — the most recent year is S&P 500 year-to-date.
Annualized (CAGR)
+10.6%
1994–2026
Average year
+12.1%
32 full years
S&P 500 average annual return →
Best year
+37.3%
1995
Worst year
-36.8%
2008
Positive years
25/32
78% up
S&P 500 returns by year (1994–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $681.92 | $765.84 | +0.6% | +12.9% | |
| 2025 | $586.08 | $681.92 | +1.4% | +17.7% | |
| 2024 | $475.31 | $586.08 | +1.6% | +24.9% | |
| 2023 | $382.43 | $475.31 | +1.9% | +26.2% | |
| 2022 | $474.96 | $382.43 | +1.3% | -18.2% | |
| 2021 | $373.88 | $474.96 | +1.7% | +28.7% | |
| 2020 | $321.86 | $373.88 | +2.2% | +18.3% | |
| 2019 | $249.92 | $321.86 | +2.4% | +31.2% | |
| 2018 | $266.86 | $249.92 | +1.8% | -4.6% | |
| 2017 | $223.53 | $266.86 | +2.3% | +21.7% | |
| 2016 | $203.87 | $223.53 | +2.4% | +12.0% | |
| 2015 | $205.54 | $203.87 | +2.0% | +1.2% | |
| 2014 | $184.69 | $205.54 | +2.2% | +13.5% | |
| 2013 | $142.41 | $184.69 | +2.6% | +32.3% | |
| 2012 | $125.50 | $142.41 | +1.9% | +15.4% | |
| 2011 | $125.75 | $125.50 | +2.1% | +1.9% | |
| 2010 | $111.44 | $125.75 | +2.2% | +15.1% | |
| 2009 | $90.24 | $111.44 | +2.9% | +26.4% | |
| 2008 | $146.21 | $90.24 | +1.5% | -36.8% | |
| 2007 | $141.62 | $146.21 | +1.9% | +5.1% | |
| 2006 | $124.51 | $141.62 | +2.1% | +15.8% | |
| 2005 | $120.87 | $124.51 | +1.3% | +4.3% | |
| 2004 | $111.28 | $120.87 | +2.1% | +10.7% | |
| 2003 | $88.23 | $111.28 | +2.1% | +28.2% | |
| 2002 | $114.30 | $88.23 | +1.2% | -21.6% | |
| 2001 | $131.19 | $114.30 | +1.1% | -11.8% | |
| 2000 | $146.88 | $131.19 | +0.9% | -9.7% | |
| 1999 | $123.31 | $146.88 | +1.3% | +20.4% | |
| 1998 | $97.06 | $123.31 | +1.6% | +28.7% | |
| 1997 | $73.84 | $97.06 | +2.0% | +33.5% | |
| 1996 | $61.48 | $73.84 | +2.4% | +22.5% | |
| 1995 | $45.56 | $61.48 | +2.4% | +37.3% | |
| 1994 | $46.59 | $45.56 | +0.0% | -2.2% |
Total return by period#
Annual
-30%-20%-10%0%10%20%30%
1994-2.2%'94
1995+37%
1996+22%
1997+33%'97
1998+29%
1999+20%
2000-9.7%'00
2001-12%
2002-22%
2003+28%'03
2004+11%
2005+4.3%
2006+16%'06
2007+5.1%
2008-37%
2009+26%'09
2010+15%
2011+1.9%
2012+15%'12
2013+32%
2014+13%
2015+1.2%'15
2016+12%
2017+22%
2018-4.6%'18
2019+31%
2020+18%
2021+29%'21
2022-18%
2023+26%
2024+25%'24
2025+18%
2026+13%
Methodology#
Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from SPY's split- and dividend-adjusted closes — a standard proxy for the S&P 500. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ#
- What is S&P 500's average annual return?
- Since 1994, the S&P 500 (proxied by SPY, dividends reinvested) has returned about 10.6% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.1%.
- What were S&P 500's best and worst years?
- Over 1994–2026, the best year was 1995 (+37.3%) and the worst was 2008 (-36.8%).
- How often is S&P 500 up in a year?
- 25 of the 32 full years since 1994 were positive — about 78% of the time.
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